Jamaica and Guyana have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in tourism and hospitality, with both countries seeking to expand investment opportunities, improve regional connectivity and encourage travel between the destinations.
The agreement was signed by Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, and Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, during the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026, held in Georgetown, Guyana. The signing took place on October 9.
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The MOU establishes a framework for the countries to exchange knowledge and expertise, strengthen relationships among tourism stakeholders and explore opportunities for joint initiatives. Areas of cooperation include tourism investment, air connectivity, education and training, sustainable tourism development and resilience.
Rodrigues welcomed the agreement, saying it would enable both countries to learn from each other’s experiences and develop stronger partnerships across the tourism sector.
“This partnership allows us to learn from each other’s experiences, build stronger connections between our tourism stakeholders and create opportunities that benefit our people and the wider Caribbean,” she said.
Bartlett said closer ties with Guyana could contribute to Caribbean tourism integration and support the development of multi-destination travel experiences. He also highlighted Guyana’s forests, valleys and natural heritage as attractions that could complement Jamaica’s established tourism offerings.
The agreement comes as Guyana continues to expand its tourism industry and attract investment. Cooperation with Jamaica could provide opportunities to share experience in destination management, hospitality training and tourism development while creating stronger links between businesses and other industry stakeholders.
Both countries are also seeking to ensure that tourism generates wider economic benefits for local communities, businesses and workers. The partnership reflects broader calls for Caribbean destinations to collaborate on marketing, transportation and sustainable development rather than relying solely on competition for visitors.
While the MOU outlines areas for cooperation, specific joint programmes, implementation timelines and financial commitments were not detailed in the announcement.
